European birds

Food & drink

What should I give my native European birds to eat?

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cardinal finchA good seed mixture as a basic diet for your native European birds

A seed mix forms an excellent basic diet for native European birds. Make sure that you choose a high-quality mix for the species you keep. There is a big difference between the composition of foods for various species. There are also special kinds of concentrated food with insects and/or fruit for these birds, which form an important part of these animals' diet. Depending on the species, fresh food can also be provided.

Important information

Five useful tips!

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Five useful tips when you are thinking about buying a native European bird

bullfinch, Pyrrhula

  1. Choose a species that suits you. Each species has specific behavioural and care needs.
  2. Native European birds are best kept in a large aviary with a sheltered indoor area.
  3. Most species are quite shy and therefore not suitable to be tamed or kept in a busy living room.
  4. Research the species you would like to keep carefully. Of course this applies for any animal, but for this group of birds it is particularly important.
  5. Make sure that birds in this group have a permanent foot ring in the right size. Keeping birds without a ring is a criminal offence as they could then have been caught from the wild. 

 

cardinal finchA good seed mixture as a basic diet for your native European birds

A seed mix forms an excellent basic diet for native European birds. Make sure that you choose a high-quality mix for the species you keep. There is a big difference between the composition of foods for various species. There are also special kinds of concentrated food with insects and/or fruit for these birds, which form an important part of these animals' diet. Depending on the species, fresh food can also be provided.

Five useful tips when you are thinking about buying a native European bird

bullfinch, Pyrrhula

  1. Choose a species that suits you. Each species has specific behavioural and care needs.
  2. Native European birds are best kept in a large aviary with a sheltered indoor area.
  3. Most species are quite shy and therefore not suitable to be tamed or kept in a busy living room.
  4. Research the species you would like to keep carefully. Of course this applies for any animal, but for this group of birds it is particularly important.
  5. Make sure that birds in this group have a permanent foot ring in the right size. Keeping birds without a ring is a criminal offence as they could then have been caught from the wild. 

 

Fun facts!

Did you know...

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Five fun and important facts about these bird species!

european finch

  1. Well known bird species that can be kept as pets include the goldfinch and siskin.
  2. Goldfinches love thistle seeds and therefore used to be known as thistle finches.
  3. Both male and female cardinals can sing, although the males often sing better.
  4. The Eurasian bullfinch is the largest of all varieties and can grow to 18 cm.
  5. The crossbill takes its name from the crossed ends of its beak. 

 

 

Housing

Things you really need to know!

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How do I provide the best possible home for my native European bird?

Please note that not all native European birds should be kept in the same way. The northern cardinal should best be kept alone, but it is no problem to keep some other birds as a pair. Most native European birds feel at home in an outdoor aviary. The birds appreciate plants. They can certainly also thrive indoors. Indoors, make sure that the birds get plenty of exercise, so that they don't become too heavy. A long cage, with perches as far as possible from each other, will mean the bird has to fly from one perch to the other and this is often enough to keep them in excellent condition. 

Five fun and important facts about these bird species!

european finch

  1. Well known bird species that can be kept as pets include the goldfinch and siskin.
  2. Goldfinches love thistle seeds and therefore used to be known as thistle finches.
  3. Both male and female cardinals can sing, although the males often sing better.
  4. The Eurasian bullfinch is the largest of all varieties and can grow to 18 cm.
  5. The crossbill takes its name from the crossed ends of its beak. 

 

 

How do I provide the best possible home for my native European bird?

Please note that not all native European birds should be kept in the same way. The northern cardinal should best be kept alone, but it is no problem to keep some other birds as a pair. Most native European birds feel at home in an outdoor aviary. The birds appreciate plants. They can certainly also thrive indoors. Indoors, make sure that the birds get plenty of exercise, so that they don't become too heavy. A long cage, with perches as far as possible from each other, will mean the bird has to fly from one perch to the other and this is often enough to keep them in excellent condition. 

Goldfinch

A songbird among the finches

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A closer look at the goldfinch!

The goldfinch is a beautiful bird found in Europe, North Africa and Asia. This species tolerates other species, which makes it suitable for a group aviary. Make sure there is some vegetation in the aviary, so they can sit in a sheltered and safe place when they need to. As well as a seed mix especially for goldfinches, these birds also like to eat insects, berries and grass seeds. They also love thistle seeds. 

Yellow-coated canary

A brightly coloured bird

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A closer look at the yellow-coated canary!

This tiny bird originally comes from Africa and is kept especially as a songbird. Only the males sing. Although they will thrive in a large birdcage, these birds are best kept in a spacious aviary. The basis for a good diet for siskins is a seed mix especially for siskins. This includes different kinds of fine seeds and a large quantity of grass seed. These birds also like to eat insects. These can be provided fresh but also in the form of insect pâté.

Northern cardinal

What a beautiful crest!

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A closer look at the northern cardinal!

The Northern cardinal comes originally from America and Canada. The male has bright red plumage, whilst the female is browner in colour. Cardinals also have a crest on their head. Both males and females can sing. These birds are friendly to other species, even if these are smaller than them. They are real aviary birds, so they are not suitable for keeping in a cage. As well as a mix specially for cardinals, it is important to give these birds insects. These can be fresh insects or a ready-made insect mix. A daily portion of fruit and vegetables is also an essential part of their menu. 

A closer look at the goldfinch!

The goldfinch is a beautiful bird found in Europe, North Africa and Asia. This species tolerates other species, which makes it suitable for a group aviary. Make sure there is some vegetation in the aviary, so they can sit in a sheltered and safe place when they need to. As well as a seed mix especially for goldfinches, these birds also like to eat insects, berries and grass seeds. They also love thistle seeds. 

A closer look at the yellow-coated canary!

This tiny bird originally comes from Africa and is kept especially as a songbird. Only the males sing. Although they will thrive in a large birdcage, these birds are best kept in a spacious aviary. The basis for a good diet for siskins is a seed mix especially for siskins. This includes different kinds of fine seeds and a large quantity of grass seed. These birds also like to eat insects. These can be provided fresh but also in the form of insect pâté.

A closer look at the northern cardinal!

The Northern cardinal comes originally from America and Canada. The male has bright red plumage, whilst the female is browner in colour. Cardinals also have a crest on their head. Both males and females can sing. These birds are friendly to other species, even if these are smaller than them. They are real aviary birds, so they are not suitable for keeping in a cage. As well as a mix specially for cardinals, it is important to give these birds insects. These can be fresh insects or a ready-made insect mix. A daily portion of fruit and vegetables is also an essential part of their menu. 

For the professionals!

Ambition to breed?

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Are you already familiar with breeding European birds?

Please note that not all native European birds should be bred in the same way. The average number of eggs for native European birds is between two and four. The eggs are incubated almost entirely by the females, although at night the male can often be found in the nest box too. Depending on the species, the young fledge and leave the nest fairly young. For the northern cardinal, this is after just ten days. Both parents help to feed the young. 

Rewards

I like a snack sometimes too!

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A snack won't do any harm, but always use moderation.

Everyone likes to treat their pet sometimes, but for pets that live in a restricted space, it's important not to just constantly provide snacks. Witte Molen's snacks for birds are formulated with care so it's no problem to treat your birds to something tasty now and then when they've been good, could do with a little something extra or to reward them when you're training them. Don't go overboard here, snacks should never make up more than 20% of their daily diet. 

Tailored products

Food, snacks and bedding

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Are you already familiar with breeding European birds?

Please note that not all native European birds should be bred in the same way. The average number of eggs for native European birds is between two and four. The eggs are incubated almost entirely by the females, although at night the male can often be found in the nest box too. Depending on the species, the young fledge and leave the nest fairly young. For the northern cardinal, this is after just ten days. Both parents help to feed the young. 

A snack won't do any harm, but always use moderation.

Everyone likes to treat their pet sometimes, but for pets that live in a restricted space, it's important not to just constantly provide snacks. Witte Molen's snacks for birds are formulated with care so it's no problem to treat your birds to something tasty now and then when they've been good, could do with a little something extra or to reward them when you're training them. Don't go overboard here, snacks should never make up more than 20% of their daily diet. 

Bullfinch

Conspicuously inconspicuous!

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bullfinch

A closer look at the bullfinch!

The bullfinch is found from Europe to Asia. The head and tail are black and coarse, the body of the male is a dark pinkish red colour and the body of the female is pale grey. There is a lot of difference in size. Depending on the area they come from, they can vary between 14 and 18 cm. These birds like to be with their partner and should therefore best be kept as one or more pairs. They benefit from a large aviary with plenty of vegetation, in which they can sit in a sheltered place if they need to. A seed mix especially for bullfinches is a good basis. These contain finer as well as coarser seeds and often also berries. Fresh food is important for these birds, as are insects.

bullfinch

A closer look at the bullfinch!

The bullfinch is found from Europe to Asia. The head and tail are black and coarse, the body of the male is a dark pinkish red colour and the body of the female is pale grey. There is a lot of difference in size. Depending on the area they come from, they can vary between 14 and 18 cm. These birds like to be with their partner and should therefore best be kept as one or more pairs. They benefit from a large aviary with plenty of vegetation, in which they can sit in a sheltered place if they need to. A seed mix especially for bullfinches is a good basis. These contain finer as well as coarser seeds and often also berries. Fresh food is important for these birds, as are insects.

Frequently asked questions

What type of feed is suitable for my native European birds?

The native European birds category denotes a large group of different types of birds of varying sizes and appearance. As a result, each type of bird often has specific feeding requirements. For European goldfinches, siskins, bullfinches or cardinals it is best to use a seed mix composed specifically for those varieties.

Can my native European birds eat insects?

Yes: insects are a fine addition to their diet. The quantity and type of insects depend on the animals’ life stage. For example, the birds need fewer animal proteins at rest than when rearing chicks.

What kind of egg food should I feed my native European birds?

In principle, the “normal” Witte Molen egg food is fine. However, a special variety has been developed to cater for the specific dietary requirements of native European birds containing insects, wild seeds and herbs. Most birds love it!